The Raven

You've got to do something.

You've got to save

my daughter's life.

But, my dear sir, we...

You see, Judge Thatcher...

Jerry, if you love Jean,

do something.

The root nerves at the base of the brain...

...something has

impinged on them.

It's impossible...

Stop telling me that!

Jerry.

Vollin.

Dr. Vollin.

Can we get Dr. Vollin?

Dr. Vollin?

Get Dr. Vollin here.

"Suddenly there came

a tapping...

"As of someone

gently rapping...

"rapping at my chamber door.

"Open then

I flung the shutter...

"when, with many

a flirt and flutter...

In there stepped

a stately Raven"

Raven is my talisman.

Curious talisman.

Bird of the ill omen.

A symbol of death.

Death is my talisman,

Mr. Chapman.

The one indestructible force.

The one certain thing

in an uncertain universe.

Death.

Uh, Dr. Vollin,

the museum that I represent...

...will pay you a very handsome

price for your Poe collection.

Yes, yes, I know,

but will you tell Dr. Vollin...

...this is a matter

of life and death?

Oh. If you'll hold the line

just a moment, sir.

What is it?

Excuse me, Dr. Vollin, Dr.

Halden is on the phone, sir.

I've told him you didn't

wish to be disturbed, sir...

...but he says it's very urgent.

Yes, Dr. Halden.

But you know that I've

retired from actual practice...

...and I'm doing only research.

Who is on the case?

Well, I'm satisfied. They

can handle it as well as I.

But Dr. Vollin, I...

Let me, Jerry.

Dr. Vollin, this is

Judge Thatcher speaking.

It's my daughter.

She's... She's met

with a serious accident...

...and none of the doctors

in attendance...

That's very flattering,

but no.

No, Judge Thatcher.

I'm sure they can handle it

as well as I.

I'm sorry.

He's hung up.

What's his home address?

Hillview Heights.

Why?

I'm going there.

Mr. Chapman, I don't like to

ask you to go, but I'm tired.

If you come again sometime, I

will show you those models I built.

They are down

in my cellar.

I should like to see them.

Next time.

Yes. I've actually built...

...you know, several of those

torture and horror devices...

...that Poe described

in his tales.

The Pit and the Pendulum.

That's the thrill of it,

isn't it?

Well, I certainly look forward

to seeing them.

Imagine building those things.

A very curious hobby.

It's more than a hobby.

Good night, Mr. Chapman.

Good night, Doctor.

But you can't say no.

I have said it.

I'll pay you any amount of money,

Dr. Vollin.

Money means nothing

to me.

But someone is dying.

Your... Your obligation as a

member of the medical profession.

I respect

no such obligation.

I'm a law unto myself.

But have you no

human feeling?

My daughter is dying.

Death, hasn't

the same significance for me...

...as it has for you.

But you're

the one chance she's got.

Doctors Cook and Hemingway

are competent doctors.

Competent.

It seems that

competence is not enough.

Cook and Hemingway

and Halden...

...they say that

you're the only one.

So they do say

I'm the only one.

Yes. I... I beg you

for my daughter's life.

Very well. I will go.

Start the anesthetic.

You're not only a great surgeon,

but a great musician, too.

Extraordinary man.

You're almost not a man.

Almost...

A god?

Yes.

A God with the taint

of human emotions.

The scar is almost gone.

I'm so glad.

When I touch it,

does it still hurt?

No.

A month ago,

I didn't know you.

But now,

I owe my life to you.

I wish there were

something I could do.

There is.

Tell me.

The restraint that we

impose upon ourselves...

...can drive us mad.

I don't know what you mean.

Jerry... Jerry Halden tells me

you've made him your assistant.

It means we can be married

that much sooner.

Now, I owe you

another debt.

You owe me nothing.

I did it to give him something,

to take the place...

...of what he's losing.

They're expecting me

at dinner.

I... I think I'd better

run along.

You're coming to

see me dance tomorrow night?

Nothing can keep me away.

Thanks to you,

I'm able to dance again.

I'm going to have

a surprise for you.

Surprise?

Tomorrow night. Goodbye.

"Once upon a midnight dreary...

"while I pondered,

weak and weary...

"Over many a quaint and curious

volume of forgotten lore...

"While I nodded,

nearly napping...

"suddenly there came

a tapping...

"As of some one

gently rapping...

"rapping at my chamber door.

"'Tis some visitor,'

I muttered...

"'tapping at my chamber door...

"Only this,

and nothing more. '

"Ah, distinctly I remember...

"it was in the bleak December...

"And each separate dying ember...

"wrought its ghost

upon the floor.

"Eagerly I wished the morrow,

vainly I had tried to borrow...

"From my books

surcease of sorrow...

"sorrow for the lost Lenore...

"For the rare

and radiant maiden...

...whom the angels name Lenore"

Did they really like me?

No, not much, they only called

you back 12 times.

Oh, darling,

isn't it wonderful?

I can dance again.

All our children will be dancers,

I can see them.

The 14 Dancing Holdens.

That's what you think.

Here, dear,

take my slippers off for me.

Of course.

Oh, Jean,

you were darling.

...most charming. Not only

charming but dramatic as well.

Thank you so much.

That was marvelous, dear.

Dad.

What do you call that dance?

You've never

done that before, have you?

I call it

"The Spirit of Poe. "

So that was

your surprise.

Was it a great surprise?

"Whom the angels

call Lenore"

I told you never to come into

this room unless I send for you.

I'm sorry, sir.

Judge Thatcher is here.

Judge Thatcher here.

Yes, sir.

All right, send him in.

Very good, sir.

Good afternoon, Dr. Vollin.

Good afternoon.

Will you step in?

Thank you.

You were

expecting my daughter.

You see, last night,

while Jean was dancing...

I... I observed something

that... That worried me.

Later on, in Jean's dressing

room, I... I felt the same thing.

Then I... I questioned Jean.

And she made a confession.

She's in danger of becoming

infatuated with you.

Of course,

I can understand that.

You... You saved her life,

Dr. Vollin.

You think it's

only gratitude she feels?

Oh, don't say it

that way, Dr. Vollin.

Don't cheat us of the right

to be grateful to you.

Come to the point, Thatcher.

Well, I made it about as

plain as I can without, uh...

Look here, you... You know that

Jean's engaged to young Jerry Halden.

Now we can't let her get

any ideas about you, can we?

You are saying,

Judge Thatcher...

...that Jean has

fallen in love with me.

No, I'm not quite

saying that.

That you do not approve.

You disapprove yourself,

Dr. Vollin.

You don't want a young girl like

Jean falling in love with you.

Dr. Vollin,

I... I came to you once...

...and asked you, when death was near,

to save Jean.

I come to you again.

But this time...

...instead of from death,

you want to save her from me.

Oh.

I never realized, Vollin.

I'm sorry you feel like this.

Now that you know...

...you still say that your greatest

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